Lincoln City can strike gold with Blackpool transfer agreement - he ticks 3 boxes | OneFootball

Lincoln City are one of an ever-growing number of clubs linked to a certain Blackpool star.

Lincoln City are one of an ever-growing number of clubs linked to a certain Blackpool star.

The out-of-contract Jordan Gabriel has attracted reported interest from across Sky Bet League One, including Mansfield Town, Northampton Town, and newly promoted Port Vale.

Another in the list exclusively revealed by Football League World were the Imps, who have seen their name tied to Gabriel in past transfer windows too.

If Michael Skubala’s side were to win the intensifying race for the 26-year-old’s signature, then he would be a good signing for three big reasons.

Jordan Gabriel has heaps of League One experience

Firstly, Gabriel would provide League One experience. At Blackpool, he managed 37 appearances last term with the vast majority (30) coming in league action.

It was his fifth term at the Tangerines, after three previous seasons which themselves came after an initial loan spell away from Nottingham Forest.

The former Arsenal youngster has shone over the course of his near 150 appearances for Blackpool, and the experience he has amassed over that time, comes as a bonus for prospective buyers in the third tier.

Lincoln would greatly benefit from a boost of League One experience, with it coming at a relatively young age as well. The deal would be a suitable middle ground between buying a player who has plenty of upside and years left in the tank, while also adding someone who is a recognisable face in the division.

His age is another reason that the signing would be a good one for the Imps. He is heading towards what is ordinarily the peak of a footballer’s career, at 26, meaning he would be able to head straight into the Lincoln squad without the need to build him up to the place that the club would need him to be in order to contribute fully.

The Deck has added to the list of potential suitors, reporting that League Two champions Doncaster Rovers, as well as Burton Albion and Reading, are interested in his signature.

It is no forgone conclusion that the Imps would even become one of the last few in the surge for Gabriel, but the last that his peak years are just around the corner is another reason why he would greatly improve the City ranks.

Lincoln City may need defensive reinforcements

Thirdly, Lincoln may be in dire need of defensive reinforcements this summer. Left-back Sean Roughan and Irish compatriot Paudie O’Connor, who is the Imps captain and a sturdy centre-back, are both out of contract.

It is possible that both leave Lincolnshire this summer, with a line of other clubs seeking their signatures. That would leave the staff at the Imps with a major task of bulking up what would then be very light defensive ranks, with the recruitment of Gabriel an easy tick in the box.

While Gabriel would fill neither of these two potentially empty roles, he could be invaluable nonetheless.

Lincoln right-back Tendayi Darikwa has been pulled into the centre of defence sparingly, filling injury-caused gaps during his debut season at the LNER Stadium when that has been required.

The addition of Blackpool’s out-of-contract man would therefore be a boost to squad depth, allowing Skubala more flexibility in being able to use Darikwa as a make-shift centre-back with a worthy replacement on the flank available to him in place of the club’s player of the season.